Instant messaging system

Abstract

An instant messaging system is disclosed that provides a means for presenting information to a user about current conversants and for managing the handling of multiple messages from different parties. A priority hierarchy is established and set by a user with respect to each conversant. Messages from high priority conversants are delivered and displayed prior to messages from lower priority conversants. In a business setting, messages may be routed to particular individuals or with a particular priority based on characteristics or attributes of the message sender.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An instant messaging system comprising:
 means for receiving at least one message from each of a plurality of senders; 
 means for determining at least one attribute associated with each of said plurality of senders; 
 means for assigning a priority level to said at least one received message from each of said plurality of senders based on said attribute; 
 means for displaying messages received by a recipient; and 
 means for controlling as active or inactive the states of the display of said messages received by said recipient in response to said priority level, 
 wherein said at least one message comprises a service request and wherein said recipient comprises a plurality of service representatives. 
 
     
     
       2. The instant messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said priority level may be increased with respect to one or more senders in order to improve the message response time with respect to said one or more senders. 
     
     
       3. An instant messaging system comprising:
 a first user receiving messages from a plurality of second users; 
 prioritization means associated with said first user for assigning a priority level of a plurality of priority levels to each of said second users; 
 means for displaying messages received by said first user; and 
 means for determining as active or inactive the states of the display by said first user of said messages received from each of said second users in accordance with said priority levels, 
 wherein said priority level of at least one of said second users may be increased in response to a message received from said at least one of said second users that has not been set to an active state for at least a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       4. An instant messaging system comprising:
 a first user receiving messages from a plurality of second users; 
 prioritization means associated with said first user for assigning a priority level of a plurality of priority levels to each of said second users; 
 means for displaying messages received by said first user; and 
 means for determining as active or inactive the states of the display by said first user of said messages received from each of said second users in accordance with said priority levels, 
 wherein messages from said second users having low priorities are set to an active state during periods of time when no messages are being received from said second users having high priorities. 
 
     
     
       5. A method for operating an instant messaging system comprising the steps of:
 receiving by a computer of a first user messages from a plurality of second users; 
 prioritizing, by the computer, said messages received by said first user by assigning a priority level of a plurality of priority levels to each of said second users; 
 displaying, by the computer, messages received by said first user; and 
 determining, by the computer, as active or inactive the states of the display by said first users of said messages received from each of said second users in accordance with said priority levels, 
 wherein said priority level of at least one of said second users may be increased in response to a message received from said at least one of said second users that has not been set to an active state for at least a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       6. A method for operating an instant messaging system comprising the steps of:
 receiving by a computer of a first user messages from a plurality of second users; 
 prioritizing, by the computer, said messages received by said first user by assigning a priority level of a plurality of priority levels to each of said second users; 
 displaying, by the computer, messages received by said first user; and 
 determining, by the computer, as active or inactive the states of the display by said first users of said messages received from each of said second users in accordance with said priority levels, 
 wherein messages from said second users having low priorities are set to an active state during periods of time when no messages are being received from said second users having high priorities. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for operating an instant messaging system comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least one message from each of a plurality of senders; 
 determining at least one attribute associated with each of said plurality of senders; 
 assigning a priority level to said at least one received message from each of said plurality of senders based on said attribute; 
 displaying messages received by a recipient; and 
 controlling as active or inactive the states of the display of said messages received by said recipient in response to said priority level, 
 wherein said at least one message comprises a service request and wherein said recipient comprises a plurality of service representatives. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said priority level may be increased with respect to one or more senders in order to improve the message response time with respect to said one or more senders. 
     
     
       9. An instant messaging system comprising:
 a communication device associated with a first party for sending a message to a second party; 
 a storage device responsive to the identification of said second party for accessing information related to previous messages between said first party and said second party; 
 a display associated with said first party for displaying said information concerning said previous messages between said first party and said second party; and 
 a prioritizer associated with said second party for determining the active or inactive states of the display of messages from said first party with respect to messages from at least one other party; 
 wherein said priority level of at least one of said second parties may be increased in response to a message received from said at least one of said second parties that has not been set to an active state for at least a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       10. An instant messaging system comprising:
 a communication device associated with a first party for sending a message to a second party; 
 a storage device responsive to the identification of said second party for accessing information related to previous messages between said first party and said second party; 
 a display associated with said first party for displaying said information concerning said previous messages between said first party and said second party; and 
 a prioritizer associated with said second party for determining the active or inactive states of the display of messages from said first party with respect to messages from at least one other party; 
 wherein messages from said second parties having low priorities are set to an active state during periods of time when no messages are being received from said second parties having high priorities. 
 
     
     
       11. An instant messaging system comprising:
 a communication device associated with a first party for sending a message to a second party; 
 a storage device responsive to the identification of said second party for accessing information related to previous messages between said first party and said second party; 
 a display associated with said first party for displaying said information concerning said previous messages between said first party and said second party; and 
 a prioritizer associated with said second party for determining the active or inactive states of the display of messages from said first party with respect to messages from at least one other party; 
 wherein said priority level may be increased with respect to one or more second parties in order to improve the message response time with respect to said one or more second parties.